Administrative Division and Travel Regions in China
As one of the world's four ancient civilizations with a vast territory (third largest in the world) and abundant resources and a long history, China has a splendid culture and countless tourist resources. Here we will comprehensively introduce China's administrative division and travel regions (according to landscape classifications and national minorities), to give travelers an intuitive concept of how to choose the scenery and culture for a smooth and wonderful tour to China.
Administrative Divisions
China has 34 provincial administrative regions, including 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions. According to geographical location and climate, it can be divided into seven administrative regions: North China, Northeast China, East China, Central China, South China, Southwest China, and Northwest China
North China Region:
Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei Province, Shanxi Province, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region all belong to North China. The world-famous Great Wall and the Forbidden City are both located in Beijing, the capital of China. In fact, the Great Wall sites span 15 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Gansu, etc. The ancient city of Pingyao, which has a history of more than 2,000 years, is located in Shanxi Province, where the 1500-year-old Yungang Grottoes are also located in.
Northeast China Region
The area formed by the three provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and the East Fourth League of Inner Mongolia is called the Northeast of China. The high latitude and the cold climate make this one of the most popular travel destinations for snow watching in winter. Harbin, the capital city of Heilongjiang, holds the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival every year that lasts for one month. As one of China's four natural wonders - Rime, Rime Island is located in Jilin. And the Changbai Mountain that nearly half a year is covered by snow is also located in Jilin. Arctic Village, located in Mohe City, Heilongjiang, is the only best observation point for viewing the northern lights and polar night in China.
East China Region
Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Fujian Province, Jiangxi Province, Shandong Province, and Taiwan Province are divided into Eastern China. It is the most developed economic and cultural region in China. There are countless skyscrapers in this region, the most elegant Suzhou classical gardens, many leisurely and quiet water towns (Tongli Water Town, Zhouzhuang Water Town, Wuzhen Water Town, etc.), many ancient villages, and beautiful sea areas like Xiamen.
Central China Region
Henan Province, Hubei Province, and Hunan Province are located in central China, the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Central China has a rich history and culture, rich resources, and convenient water and land transportation. It is one of the transportation centers of industry and agriculture in China. Those who like Chinese Kung Fu can visit the Shaolin Temple in Henan, together with the Longmen Grottoes (the first of the major grottoes in China). Zhangjiajie, the most popular destination for foreigners in recent years, is located in Hunan Province.
South China Region
Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan Province, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Macau Special Administrative Region are divided into southern China. Guilin & Yangshuo landscapes are world-famous, located in Guangxi, where there are also unique folk customs. The Hakka folk house in the movie Mulan is located in Fujian Province. Of course, this region is also a seaside resort with the cleanest seawater and softest beaches.
Southwest China Region
Southwest China, one of China's seven natural geographical regions, includes Chongqing municipality, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, and Tibet Autonomous Region. The hometown of giant pandas is in Sichuan, where there are many giant panda bases and nature reserves for tourists to visit. The most desirable thing in this area is the magnificent plateau scenery and the unique and pure Tibetan culture and religious beliefs. In addition to the Tibet Autonomous Region, there are three Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in Sichuan and Yunnan. Guizhou is also rich in tourism resources. In addition to the beautiful natural scenery, there are many ethnic minorities here, and many ethnic groups still retain a primitive life.
Northwest China Region
Shaanxi Province, Gansu Province, Qinghai Province, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region belong to Northwest China. This area also has a long history. The Silk Road started from here all the way to West Asia and then to Europe. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses, one of the Eight Wonders of Mankind, is located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, which is also the starting point of the Silk Road. There is also Mogao Grottoes, the largest and most abundant Buddhist art site in the world, located in Gansu Province. There are 6 Tibetan autonomous prefectures in Qinghai Province, which not only has plateau scenery but also has many Tibetans inhabited. The stunning natural and cultural landscapes such as Kanas Lake, Karakul Lake, and Gaochang Ruins, etc. are all located in Xinjiang.
Travel Regions
China's tourist regions can be divided according to the types of scenic spots and ethnic customs. The vast land and complex topography have created various magical and beautiful natural landscapes. The splendid culture and long history have created a great cultural landscape. 56 ethnic groups thrived on this great and magical land, creating a unique historical culture and folk customs.
Divide Travel Regions according to Landscape Classifications
1. Lofty Mountains
Continuous Mountain: The rock composition is more complicated, and a lot of sediment is deposited on the mountain, so the vegetation cover is very high, and it looks like it is covered by a huge green blanket in summer. This is an ideal destination for hiking travel because the mountain is relatively flat and has a wide view with good vegetation cover. Mount Wutai in Shanxi and Mount Emei in Sichuan are good examples.
Peak clustered Mountains: Most mountains are granite mountains, which are eroded by running water and collapsed by gravity to form a large number of vertebral peaks. These peaks are often connected together at the bottom to form a cluster of peaks that are full of changes, making them the most beautiful mountains. Generally, the thinner peaks become pillar peaks, and the thicker ones resemble pagodas called tower peaks. The Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) and Mount Jiuhua both in Anhui Province belong to this type of mountain range.
Columnar Peak Mountains: Mostly composed of sedimentary rocks or metamorphic rocks, and a state where the mountain is highly weathered and turned into a column-like peak. They are made of quartz sandstone with strong weathering resistance, many times, at first glance, they look similar to the peak clustered mountains mentioned above, but the shape of the peak and the rock structure of the mountain show obvious differences. Tianzi Mountain in Zhangjiajie and Mount Fanjing in Guizhou belong to this type of mountain range.
Karst Mountains: Generally formed after water-soluble carbonate rock is eroded and cut by the flow. A variety of low, round, conical hills are often formed, and these mountains tend to be close together, appearing in succession, rising and falling, without seeing the end at a glance, usually accompanied by karst caves. Li River Mountains Groups in Guilin and Wanfenglin in Guizhou belong to this type of mountain range.
Snow-capped Mountains: As the name suggests, a mountain covered by glaciers all year round. The mountain peaks are generally shaped sharply due to the erosion of glaciers on each side and are called horn peaks. This kind of mountain is magnificent and has an awe-inspiring sense of sacredness. Trekking on these types of mountains is dangerous, due to the low temperature and oxygen deficiency, as well as freezing and cracks that may exist everywhere on the glacier. Tibet Mount Kailash and Qinghai Amnye Machen Range belong to this type of mountain range.
Piercing Cave Mountains: This kind of mountain belongs to the peculiar form, usually appears a hole in the mountain. Generally speaking, most of the perforations are formed by the keratolysis of carbonate rocks. The so-called perforation was originally an underground river course, and there would be a hole in the residual mountain after the river course collapsed. Some are continuously eroded by groundwater until the caves are formed through the entire mountain. Mountain Tianmen in Zhangjiajie and Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin belong to this type of mountain range.
In addition, there are the staircase wall type of mountains, low tower peak type of mountains, giant rock cliff type of mountains, volcanic cones, and so on.
2. Non-mountainous Lithospheric Landscape
Karst and Granite Stone Forests: Karst stone forest is a karst landform formed by the erosion of water-soluble carbonate rocks in flowing water. Stone forests of this type are often very sharp and dense, often appearing in rainy areas. Granite forests are generally caused by freeze-thaw and frost weathering, so they are usually located in relatively cold climates. Although it is also called the stone forest, it is actually some granite pillars with a sparse distribution. Representative scenic spots: Stone Forest Scenic in Kunming and Arshihaty Stone Forest in Chifeng.
Erosional Clastic Rocks: Mainly refers to the wind erosion of sedimentary rocks, relatively less water erosion of sedimentary rocks. Due to the structure of sedimentary rocks, this type of rock tends to be round and angular, and its shape is also more rich and layered. The surrounding areas where such rocks usually appear are particularly desolate and arid. Representative scenic spots: Yadan National Geopark in Dunhuang and Ghost City in Karamay.
Karst Caves: As carbonate rocks are water-soluble, there are often caves formed by river erosion in the rock formations, and caves are left when the river water recedes. There are often drops of water in the cave, and the carbonate components in the water may be deposited when the water drops move. Over time, these deposits form new stones. It is mainly composed of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as large stone mantles, stone waterfalls, stone flowers, and other different landscapes. They together constitute a complex and mysterious karst cave landscape. Representative scenic spots: Zhi Jin Cave in Guizhou and Lianzhou Subterranean River in Guangdong.
Volcanic Remains: The volcanic activity does not necessarily leave volcanic cones, and volcanic relics without volcanoes are also worth visiting, but in general, these landscapes have a strong scientific nature. The most interesting of these are columnar joints, as basalt and rhyolite form polygonal joints, there are often rocks composed of polygonal stone pillars. Representative scenic spots: Haikou Shishan Volcanic Group National Geopark.
Sand Forests: Mainly sand forests formed by loosely structured siltstone, but these rocks often look like silt instead of stones. The appearance of the sand forest is quite different in different periods, as the structure of the sand forest is the most unstable, and heavy rain can change its form. This kind of landscape is more fragile than the Yadan landform, so please do not step on it. Representative scenic spots: Zanda Earth Forest in Tibet and Yuanmou Earth Forest in Yunnan.
Arid Canyons: These canyons are usually formed by flooding, generally in semi-arid areas, and there is basically no water source in the canyon. They are relatively narrow, with red rocks, you will experience a deep and mysterious feeling. Representative scenic spots: Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon in Xinjiang.
Desert and Dunes: Desert is a landform formed by the accumulation of fine sand grains deposited by wind, and it has a large number of branches in the northwest of China. Generally speaking, the top attraction in the desert is the crescent-shaped sand dunes. The higher and more sand dunes, the better the viewing effect. Because deserts often have strong sunlight, and the shadows created by sand dunes have a beautiful line composed of light and shadow, which is fascinating. Representative scenic spots: Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang and Shapotou Scenic Area in Ningxia.
Colored Hills: Colored hills are a special landscape of the Danxia landform. They are actually the sections of a very thick layer of sediment that has been cut by running water. Because of the different chemical compositions in different stratum, different bottom layers show different colors, resulting in a colorful and dreamy landscape. The composition of the different strata is determined by the prevailing environment of the geological time. Representative scenic spots, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park and Burqin Multi-colored Bay in Xinjiang.
In addition, there are earthquake relics, quarry sites, mining parks, dinosaur parks, and various types of granite attractions.
3. Flowing Water Landscapes
Waterfalls: It generally appears in the mountainous area and is greatly influenced by the direction of the river, and the best viewing season is in the rainy season. Sometimes the waterfalls are concentrated in one area, which forms the waterfall groups. In addition, there is also the existence of a single giant waterfall, which is found in many places. Representative scenic spots: Huangguoshu Waterfall in Guizhou and Detian Waterfall in Guangxi.
Canyons/Gorges: It is generally a relatively narrow valley landform formed by rivers. From the sensory point of view, there are two types: one is a narrow canyon with slow water flow and a deep and quiet, the other is often the upper reaches of large rivers, where the currents run fast and furious. Representative scenic spots: Tiger Leaping Gorge, between Lijiang and Shangri-La of Yunnan.
Large River Valleys: Often extraordinarily wide, and bring the impression of being majestic and magnificent. The formation of large river valleys is either the middle reaches of great rivers, where the channels widen, or the rift caused by plate movement, or the large valleys formed by this karstification. It has a richer sense of hierarchy, and you can enjoy different views from different angles and heights. Representative scenic spots, The Three Gorges of Yangtze River between Chongqing and Hubei.
Springs: Most of the spring water is naturally formed, but there are also some groundwater gushes formed by artificial drilling. Generally, the spring water that gushes out is clear and free of impurities. In addition, because of underground magma activity, hot springs may also appear. One of the most popular recreational activities in winter is to enjoy the hot springs. Representative scenic spots: Yangpachen hot-spring in Tibet and Baotu Spring in Shandong.
Sinter Landscapes: Sinter landscapes are underground water, underground hot water, and underground steam dissolved in carbon, acid, hydrogen, calcium, and other minerals, and chemical deposits in cave crevices or at the edge of surface spring pools. According to the composition, it is divided into calcareous, sulfurous, siliceous, salt, and metallic categories, and calcareous being the most common. It has strange shapes and diverse colors, with great ornamental value. Representative scenic spots: Huanglong Park in Sichuan and Baishuitai (White Water Terrace) in Yunnan.
In addition, there are landscapes such as wavy flow marks, river bends, or rivers with various minerals.
4. Large Waters Landscape
Plateau Lakes: Most of them are structural lakes, and plateau lakes in the inward flow zone are generally the endpoints of the rivers in the region, that is, inward flow lakes. The largest plateau lake group in the world is the Qinghai-Tibet plateau lakes group. Plateau lakes are often surrounded by fascinating snow peaks, grasslands, and forests. Representative scenic spots: Namtso Lake in Tibet and lakes of the Jiuzhaigou National Park in Sichuan.
Plain Lakes: Due to the pollution and organic matter in the lake, the water of the plain lake is much more turbid than the plateau lake water. Hence, visit a plain lake in the evening or early morning, preferably from a perch overlooking the lake and its surroundings to enjoy the view. Most of the plain lakes are in or near the city, which is also a quiet leisure resort in the city. Representative scenic spots: West Lake in Hangzhou and Taihu Lake in Jiangsu.
Desert Lakes: The effect of wind erosion that digs the ground to a position below the groundwater level, and the groundwater gushes out and becomes a lake. Generally speaking, there is a barrier layer under desert lakes, and desert lakes are not large in size. Oasis is often formed around desert lakes, which is in sharp contrast with the surrounding desert landscape. Representative scenic spots: Crescent Lake in Dunhuang and Badain Jaran Desert Lake in Alxa League of Inner Mongolia.
Mountain Lakes: Due to landslides, volcanic eruptions, and glacier movements, gravel, volcanic slag, and moraines block the valley to form lakes. Some are created by the large pits formed by glacier erosion that have accumulated water to form a lake. It has a richer visual effect as the lakes are surrounded by mountains and hills. Representative scenic spots: Kanas Lake in Xinjiang and Erhai Lake in Yunnan.
Salt Lakes: When the water source of the inland saltwater lake is close to exhaustion, the lake water evaporates in a large amount, but the salt will not evaporate, and the salt content of the lake water becomes higher and higher and becomes a salt lake. Due to the high salt content in the water, almost no organisms can survive, so the water is exceptionally clear. Many white salt crystals will appear at the bottom of the lake, which looks like a huge mirror. Representative scenic spots: Caka Salt Lake and Cha’erhan Salt Lake in Qinghai.
Cape Bay Coast: An uneven coast and there are cliffs, sea pillars, sea erosion platforms, sea caves, etc. in the mountains around this kind of coast. The disadvantage is that there are basically fewer beaches near this type of coast and the sand is very rough. The underwater conditions in this area are complicated and it is unsafe for swimming in the water. Representative scenic spots: Golden Pebble Beach in Liaoning and Yangmadao Island in Shandong.
In addition, there are also many sizes of lakes in the cities, and muddy and sandy coasts, Island reefs, and the landscape of mountains in the sea, etc.
5. Ecological and Climate Landscape
Grassland: Divided into tropical grassland, temperate grassland, and other types, is the most widely distributed vegetation type on the earth. The reason for the formation of grassland: with the thin soil layer and low precipitation, the plants cannot grow widely while the herbaceous plants are less affected. The best grassland landscape must be matched with rugged terrain to reflect the vastness of the grassland. Representative scenic spots: Narat Grassland in Xinjiang and Hulunbuir Grassland in Inner Mongolia.
Wetland Landscape: Refers to a swamp, wetland, peatland, or water area, regardless of whether it is natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with static or flowing water, or freshwater, brackish water, or saltwater, including those whose water depth does not exceed 6m at low tide. What we can see is a large number of wetland plants, the most common plants should be reeds. In addition, wetlands are also one of the favorite habitats for waterbirds. Representative scenic spots: Panjin Red Beach in Liaoning and Juyanhai in Ejina Banner of Inner Mongolia.
Agricultural Landscape: Landscape agriculture is the part of agriculture that can be used for viewing. In view of the mixed characteristics of villages and scenic spots, local people are gradually guided to shift from conventional agricultural planting to landscape agricultural development. The most popular landscapes in recent years include rice terrace fields, lavender fields, rapeseed fields, tea gardens, etc. Representative scenic spots: Yuanyang Rice Terraces in Yunnan and Mengding Tea Garden in Sichuan.
Special Animal Reserve: Strictly speaking, it does not belong to the wild zoo but is an organization with animal protection as its core, and they provide additional tourism services. These places are tourism activities with the main purpose of animal protection and science education, and strictly control tourists get close to animals or feed them. Representative scenic spots, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda in Sichuan and Dafeng Elk National Nature Reserve in Jiangsu.
Ice and Snow Tourist Area: Generally located in colder northern regions, and can be divided into two types: one is the place for winter ice and snow entertainment for urban residents, the other is for residents in areas with little or no snowfall in the south. They often feature excellent snow scenery as their top attractions. However, ice and snow tourist attractions are often greatly affected by the climate, which is also a fatal flaw, and the cold does prevent many people from traveling. Representative scenic spots: Harbin Ice and Snow World and China Snow Town (Xuexiang) in Heilongjiang.
In addition, there are landscapes such as temperate forests, tropical rain forests, and special plant communities.
6. History and Culture
Royal and Government Ancient Buildings: Ancient buildings are the most important part of the Chinese cultural landscape. A common feature is an emphasis on the etiquette and high standards of buildings. The performance of these buildings is a sense of majesty and shock, seeking visual grandeur and a sense of oppression to demonstrate the power of the emperor and the country. Representative scenic spots: Forbidden City and Summer Palace in Beijing and Yueyang Tower in Hunan.
Private Classical Garden: Roughly divided into three types: the Northern, Jiangnan (South bank regions of the lower Yangtze River), and Lingnan (South China), among which the most prosperous is the Jiangnan garden represented by Suzhou gardens. Unlike imperial gardens, private gardens tend to be small in size, but in the limited space they bring a winding, deep, and varied tour experience. Representative scenic spots: Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden in Suzhou and Qinghui Garden in Foshan.
Grottoes: A special historical relic, mainly Buddhist statues built by believers. Whether you are interested in religion or not, grottoes are a favorite cultural landscape of the Chinese public, because grottoes are a concentrated expression of ancient art, gathering various forms of art such as murals, clay sculptures, round sculptures, and relief sculptures. Representative scenic spots: Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Tianshui Maiji Mountain Grottoes, Datong Yungang Grottoes, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes.
Ancient Sites/Ruins: Groups of buildings built by humans for various purposes, as well as the remnants of larger villages, castles, beacons, and other structures. Most of the ancient ruins in different historical periods have been buried for a long time for natural reasons or wars, and some have become ruins in the desert. Representative scenic spots: Guge Kingdom Ruins in Zanda and Jiaohe Ruins in Turpan.
Ancient Military Architecture: Mostly include city walls and military facilities such as forts, water villages, and underground caves. Long city walls and fortified castles are often built-in frontier fortress areas or areas with dangerous terrain. The majestic city walls and surrounding scenery form a magnificent landscape. Representative scenic spots: the Great Walls in 15 regions and Xi’an City Wall.
Traditional Large Dwelling Houses: Can be divided into the courtyard dwelling in the north and hall-well dwelling in the south. The hall-well dwellings of the southern ethnic groups can be divided into dozens of styles of residential dwellings according to ethnic groups and living areas. In the north, there are courtyards and manors formed by the expansion of courtyard dwellings. There are also some typical towers that break through the traditional folk dwellings and combine Chinese and Western styles. Representative scenic spots: Qiao Family Courtyard near Pingyao and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster near Xiamen.
Ancient Cities and Towns: An urban settlement with large-scale ancient buildings that have a history of more than hundreds of years and are still well-preserved or restored to their original appearance. Ancient cities and towns are the external manifestations of the history and culture of a place and are the cultural heritage shared by mankind. Many existing ancient cities and towns in China have a history of more than 2,000 years. Representative scenic spots: The Ancient City of Pingyao and Lijiang Ancient Town.
Religious Buildings: The more common religious buildings in China are Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, churches built by Western missionaries in China, Islamic mosques, and blockhouses and bunkers of various ethnic minorities. The most quantity should be Buddhist buildings, including temples, pagodas, grottoes, and so on. According to statistics, there are 33,000 Buddhist temples in China, of which there are 3,000 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Representative scenic spots: Jokhang Temple in Lhasa and White Horse Temple in Luoyang.
In addition, there are also rock paintings, mausoleums, modern historical buildings, and other cultural, and historical landscapes.
7. Modern Leisure
Landmark Buildings: The so-called landmarks are labels that can represent a place. For cities, they are generally large-scale characteristic buildings or theme statues, and sometimes they may be local squares. These buildings generally have a certain sense of beauty and connotation, so they can become a symbol of a city, just like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris and the Statue of Liberty is to New York. Representative scenic spots: Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai and Canton Tower in Guangzhou.
Theme Parks: Certainly, theme parks must have a theme, such as the China Dinosaur Park, which is a dinosaur-themed amusement park. There are some seasonal theme parks, such as ice and snow park and paddy field painting park. In addition also many comprehensive amusement parks with historical themes or film and television bases as the theme in China. Representative scenic spots: Shanghai Disney Resort, Universal Beijing Resort, and Ocean Park Hong Kong.
Cultural Districts/Blocks: In general, the so-called cultural blocks are essentially commercial streets, whose main highlights are shopping and dining. There are ancient buildings around many cultural blocks. Other cultural districts were built next to old factories or workshops with a certain historical significance. For tourists, it is a very good destination choice to enjoy the architecture and learn some history and culture while tasting and shopping. Representative scenic spots: Confucius Temple - Qinhuai River Area in Nanjing and Yongxingfang in Xi'an.
Modern Exhibition Centers: Various exhibition halls including museums of different subjects, art galleries, science and technology museums, etc. Generally speaking, public museums are based on history and culture as the main content. After all, a city can have its own unique culture, but it is almost impossible to have its own independent scientific system. Therefore, science and technology museums or natural science-themed museums are often only found in large and developed cities. Representative scenic spots: Xi’an Shaanxi History Museum and Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.
Zoos and Aquariums: The main purpose is to protect animals and popularize the protection education knowledge of animals and marine life, which has certain scientific education significance. Since the theme park is to provide entertainment for tourists, therefore, zoos & aquariums, and theme parks are classified separately. Representative scenic spots: Beijing Zoo and Dalian Laohutan Ocean Park.
Water Conservancy Projects: A project constructed for the purpose of controlling and arranging surface water and groundwater in nature to achieve the purpose of eliminating harms and benefiting profits. They are generally accompanied by tourism projects, some of which are ancient buildings or legacy projects, as well as modern buildings. What this kind of landscape brings to people is a magnificent, spectacular, and magical intuitive experience, as well as some scientific knowledge. Representative scenic spots: Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Sichuan and Three Gorges Dam in Yichang.
In addition, there are urban leisure parks, industrial expo parks, industrial sites, craft and technology exhibition areas, celebrities' former residences, etc.
Divide Travel Regions according to National Minorities
It is well known that China is a country with a large population and many ethnic groups. There are 56 ethnic groups living in this magical land. They have their own languages, cultures, and folk customs, which are scattered in various places in China. Especially in places where ethnic minorities live, they are often surrounded by very beautiful natural landscapes. Therefore, traveling in ethnic minority areas is not only to get knowledge of the cultural landscape but also can enjoy the natural landscape.
Han: Accounts for more than 90% of China's total population, it can be said that all provinces and cities in China live in the Han nationality population. The Han nationality has adopted an inclusive attitude towards various religious beliefs since ancient times. The agricultural production of the Han nationality has always been developed in history, especially well-known for its irrigation and intensive cultivation. The handicraft industry of the Han nationality also has a fairly high level of development.
Tibetan: There are over 7 million Tibetan people living in Tibet Autonomous Region and the 10 Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Gansu Provinces. The Tibetans first originated from an agricultural tribe in the central area of the Yarlung Zangbo River basin, with a history of at least 4,000 years. Tibetans have their own language and script, and they generally believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan carving skills are superb. In addition, Tibetan opera is unique, and Tibetan medicine is also an important heritage of mankind.
Hui: Hui nationality is the most widely distributed ethnic minority in China. It is distributed in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China. The origin of the Hui nationality can be traced back to 651 in the Tang Dynasty. Muslim merchants from Arabia and Persia successively came to China by sea and settled in China. They built the first batch of mosques in China. They married, had children, lived and settled for generations, and built public cemeteries. If you are interested in the religious beliefs, culture, and living habits of the Hui people, you can consider planning a trip to Northwest China.
Uyghur: The Uighurs mainly live in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Its origin can be traced back to the 3rd century BC nomadic people in northern China and northwestern Baikal, between the Irtysh River and Lake Balkhash. Some people also believe that the ancestors of the Uyghurs are related to the Huns. The Uyghur people now generally believe in Islam. The traditional Uyghur diet is mainly pasta. They like mutton, beef, and eat relatively few vegetables. They are very good at playing musical instruments, singing, and dancing.
Zhuang & Miao: The Zhuang is the most populous ethnic minority in China, mainly distributed in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Yunnan, Guizhou, and other provinces. The Miao population ranks fourth among the ethnic minorities in China, mainly distributed in more than 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions including Guizhou, Hunan, and Yunnan. People from these two ethnic groups have many similarities in their living habits and personalities, but they live in different environments. So visiting these two ethnic minority areas can experience different scenery.
Other Ethnic Minorities: The Yi ethnic group is the sixth-largest ethnic group in China, which mainly gathers in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. The religious beliefs of the Yi people are basically at the stage of primitive religion, and the concepts of nature worship, totem worship, ancestor worship, and animism exist from ancient times to now. The Manchu population is mainly distributed in Northeast China, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Beijing, and other places. Its culture and customs are mostly similar to those of the Han nationality, but it also maintains many Manchu characteristics. High Mesa ethnicity, mainly living in Taiwan Province, but also a few scattered in Fujian, Zhejiang, and other coastal areas. They relied mainly on the rice farming economy, supplemented by fishing and hunting production. In addition, there are the Sibe people mainly in Northeast China and Xinjiang, and the Dongxiang people who live in Gansu, Qinghai, and Ningxia, and believe in Islam. Yao people who can sing and dance are distributed in Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, etc., and dozens of other ethnic minorities have spread throughout China.